⚠️ On May 22, 2026, USCIS announced major new restrictions on the green card process. For most immigrants, filing Form I-485 and getting a green card from inside the U.S. may no longer be an option.
‼️Applicants currently in the U.S. on temporary visas may now be required to leave the country and complete immigrant visa processing through a U.S. consulate abroad.
✅Until now, many immigrants were able to apply for a green card from within the U.S. through Adjustment of Status (AOS). USCIS is now describing that process not as a standard right, but as an “extraordinary form of relief” granted at the government’s discretion.
📌 Who could be affected?
• F-1 students
• H-1B workers
• B-1/B-2 visitors
• people applying through marriage or family reunification
• employment-based green card applicants
• Diversity Visa lottery winners
✔️Possible exceptions may apply to:
• refugees
• VAWA applicants
• TPS holders
• humanitarian parole
❗️However, every case will now be reviewed individually.
⚠️USCIS has not yet clarified what will happen to already filed I-485 applications, leaving thousands of immigration cases in uncertainty.
📌 What does this mean in practice?
✔️The immigration process is becoming more complicated, time-consuming, and risky. Filing mistakes or the wrong legal strategy could lead to denials and even having to leave the U.S.
✔️But it’s important to understand: getting a green card is still possible. It just means that now, more than ever, you need the right legal strategy and a clear understanding of your options.
✔️If you’re planning to apply for a green card, change your status, or you’re already facing immigration issues – schedule a consultation. Even under these new rules, legal pathways still exist when handled correctly and on time.
Immigration attorney Irina Lust
18 years of experience
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To schedule a consultation:
✉️ info@myimmigrationlawyerusa.com
📱 +1 (203) 451-3240 WhatsApp (text only!)
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